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CLARK ROBERTS, OF WINGHESTER, ILLINOIS. Lenen? Patent NQ. 61,763, dazed www 5, 1867. i

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERNz' Be it known that I, CLARK ROBERTS, of Winchester, in the county of Scott, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and improved mode of fastening gates and doors, which I call the Pendulum Verge and T-Latch; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters oi' reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification. To enable others tomake and use my invention,I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure 1 is a'perspective view of a gate with my device attached, looking at it freu the front.

Figures 2 and 3 represent a part of a gate and post with my device attached, representing the pendulum A as thrown back, allowing the gate to be opened or closed.

Figure 4 isla rear view of the upper portion of a gate and posts.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A represents a triangular-shaped pendulum constructed with arms a and b, one ou each side, and at right angles with the surfaces thereof; the outer edge of the arms being on aldirect line with the edge of the pendulum, This pendulum is attached to the gate-post B by means of a screw or bolt passing through an eye in the end of the arm a and into the post. When thus arranged the arm b extends downward, and is held in place by a guard, c. The arms a and b are identical, so that the pendulum may be hung by either, or the pendulum may be constructed with but one arm, and the guard placed over the arm through which the bolt passes, securing it to the post. The guard c must be of sucient length to allow the pendulum to be moved laterally a suicient. distance to allow the verge e to clear'the edge of the gate or door, and allow itrto be opened or closed. The edge of the gate on closing strikes the verge e, and forces the pendulum back, and when the gate is closed the pendulum will adjust itself by4 gravitation alone, theverge e passing over the edge ofthe gate or door, and thusv securing. it. D represents a 1'shaped attachment secured at the' point f to the side of the gate, the bolt or pin by means of which it is secured to the gate constituting a pivot. The arm'gI of this attachment serves as a handle to give motion to the gate, the other arm, h, passes over the verge e on the pendulum A, andwhen the arm g is raised the arm la is forced downward on the verge e, causing the pendulum to swing laterally, so that the edge of the gate will pass the verge e, as shown in fig. When Iit is desired to, apply my device to a panel or batten door, an ordinary drop-latch handle, o', and thumb-piece, n, secured in the ordinary mann-er to the opposite side of the door will be required, the thumb-piece passing through the door and under the arm g, and 'when the arm g is raised by the said thumb-piece, the arm L will be depressed and the pendulum thrown back, as shown in iig. 2. A pin, e, is inserted into the side of the gate or' door, which will allow the piece D to be moved only a sufficient distance to mak c the verge e clear the edge of the door or gate. For the convenience of persons on horseback I arrange with the latch when applied to field gates a leven-P, as represented in igs. I, 2, and 3, .having its fulcrum or pivoted point-on a bolt or pin at z', on the side of the post B. The long arm k of this lever extends upward beyond the top of the post, passing through a slot, Z, in the capiof the post, which serves as a guard to the lever,'or a guard may be attached to the side of the post if desired.V The short arm of this lever is curved, as represented in iigs. 1, 2, and 3, the point being flattened and resting against the arm a of the pendulum. `By moving the long arm k toward the gate, the short arm 7h forces the pendulum to swing laterally so as to release the gate, or the lever may be attached to thegate, as in Figure 5. On the rear side of the gate is a traction spring, E, or other suitable device, one end ofvwhich is secured to the post F, on which the gate is suspended, the other end being attached to the gate, which, when the gate is open and unsupported, causes it to close automatically. The pendulum, as constructed, being a perfect appliance in itself, it will readily be seen that it may be used independently of the lever P and attachment D, thus furnishing a verycheap `and simple device for fastening field gates, but not so convenient for persons on horseback as when the lever P is attached.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isf- 1. The pendulum A and guard c, constructed and arranged substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. The pendulum A and guard c, in combination with the attachment D, substantially as described. 3. The pendulum A and guard c, in combination with the lever P, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4; The pendulum A, in combination with the guard c, lever P, attachment D, pin s,'andthumbpiece n, arranged substantially as described and for the purpose set forth` CLARK ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

JAMES Hansis, DEnMoNr C. Renners, 

